You Need More Space
Each church is as unique as the families they serve and the communities they are called to reach. However, almost all growing churches face common challenges and ask the same questions.
The Road Ahead for growing churches can be remarkably similar. We know it well.
Our team brings decades of experience in commercial real estate development to the obstacles faced by growing communities of faith and non-profits.
We know the questions to ask and the potholes to avoid.
We hear four questions from almost every church leader.
If they sound familiar, you’re in good company.
1. Can we update our current building or campus?
We’ll help you look at your church’s existing floor plan and site plan and help you determine whether you can expand the worship, children’s or the parking areas either within the existing footprint or by adding on to the building.
2. How large of a building will we need?
To determine the new building size, the common rule-of-thumb is to multiply the number of desired seats times 50 square feet per seat.
Seats X 50 = Total Ft2
For example, 500 seats will need a 25,000 square foot, fully functioning church building. The total square footage combines worship space + lobby + children's areas + youth ministry space + offices.
3. What can we afford?
The size of the project your church can afford is the sum of its current cash, available equity in real estate assets, donations that can be raised in a capital campaign, and the amount of a loan you can qualify for. However, establishing these figures may not always be as simple as the math sounds.
We have observed that, a church that has reached 500-600 weekly attenders (adults and children combined), is usually ready to own its own property. For more insight into project financial planning, click here to download our Church Expansion Affordability Worksheet.
Please note: Understanding commercial lending and today's construction costs are important to accurately compete the worksheet. You may wish to click the button below to schedule a free call with Scott McLean.
4. What is our next step?
CFS Helps Pastors Bring Their Expansion Vision to Life.
Schedule a free telephone consultation below. We’ll help you take the first steps to uncover what your church can afford before you start searching for a new property.
Here is what you will gain during our call:
- We’ll estimate the cost of renovating an existing building compared to the cost of developing a new building on undeveloped land.
- We’ll estimate how much money your church can raise in a capital campaign.
- We’ll estimate how large a loan your church would qualify for.
- We’ll estimate the maximum building size you could anticipate.
- We’ll calculate the timing for your future expansion project.
Our passion at Church Facility Solutions is to help churches like yours successfully realize their church building vision. Set up a no-obligation consulting session and begin to find the answers you need.
If your church has attained the following milestones, we will offer you a free consultation: 300 weekly attenders, 2 regular weekly services, $500K annual giving income, and 3 full-time staff persons.
Ask about our new resource, the Church Property Expansion Workbook, a comprehensive tool designed to help you and your team successfully plan your church expansion project. Click here to download a sample.